Mini-review of waste-to-energy related air pollution and their limit value regulations in an international comparison

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2110606
Author(s):  
Isla Hodgkinson ◽  
Roman Maletz ◽  
Franz-Georg Simon ◽  
Christina Dornack
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
Best Available Technologies ◽  
Limit Value ◽  
Anthropogenic Processes ◽  
India And China

The concept of circular economy supports mitigation of climate change and other environmental pressures to the planet. Circulating materials in anthropogenic processes come with the risk of accumulating hazardous substances and compounds. In this concept, waste incineration or waste-to-energy (WtE) is a necessary technology to remove these compounds from the life cycle. In this mini-review, contaminants of major importance in the flue gas from waste incineration plants and their environmental impact are discussed. Air pollution of WtE is often seen as the most relevant environmental impact of this treatment option. The emission values parameter set for different countries is presented and compared. The most stringent legally set of emission values could be found in parts of Europe and South Korea. Japan also permits similar strict values when authorising individual incineration plants. In North America, the values are partially less strict as the best available technologies in Europe suggest being possible. Emerging economies, such as India and China, have shown efforts to improve their environmental protection standards but still have room to improve. This could be set in relation to other industrial emitting processes and therefore could be used to assess the relevance of this industry sector to the national emission inventories.

scholarly journals Changes in Leachability of Selected Elements and Chemical Compounds in Residues from Municipal Waste Incineration Plants

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 771
Author(s):  
Barbara Bielowicz ◽  
Monika Chuchro ◽  
Radosław Jędrusiak ◽  
Katarzyna Wątor
Keyword(s):  
Autocorrelation Function ◽  
Control Charts ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Municipal Waste ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Limit Values

In Poland, special attention is focused on sustainable municipal waste management. As a result, new waste incineration plants are being planned. They are considered to be modern, ecologically friendly, and renewable energy sources. The waste from conventional incineration, which contains hazardous substances, must be disposed of in an appropriate manner. This study used advanced statistical tools, such as control charts, trend analysis, and time series analysis. The analysis was based on the leachability of selected elements and chemical compounds in incineration bottom ashes (IBAs) from the Waste to Energy Plant in Kraków, which were weathered for 2 weeks. The analysis was performed for 34 weeks. The obtained leachability results were compared with the leachability limit values of individual components. Based on the analysis of the control charts, it was found that in the case of selected samples, the leachability limit values for processing outside the plant using the R5 recovery process (LLVR5) values were exceeded. Seasonality analysis was performed using the autocorrelation function (ACF), the partial autocorrelation function (PACF), and the frequency analysis. Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the leachability of elements and chemical compounds from waste does not confirm the occurrence of seasonality. It was found that from the exceedances of the LLVR5 mean that the two-week weathering is not sufficient and further studies should be carried out. The research methodology, which was presented on the example of the leachability of elements and compounds from IBA, can also be used for other waste analyses.

scholarly journals Sustainability Impact Assessment of Waste to Energy Technologies in Iran

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahimeh Teimouri ◽  
Fahimeh Teimouri ◽  
Ali Asghar Ebrahimi ◽  
Mahrokh Jalili ◽  
Hamid Reza Alaghehbandan
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Environmental Effect ◽  
Urban Pollution ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Gas Recovery

Introduction: Current energy sources are coming to end and one of the main priorities of the country’s management is the energy recovery from renewable energy. Considerable quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the most serious urban pollution sources. Impact assessment matrix is a new and fast tool for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Materials and Methods: In this regard, renewable energy like waste-to-energy was investigated. Environmental assessment method was performed to evaluate the environmental impacts of common Waste to Energy (WTE) technologies by Wooten and Rau matrix. Most available WTE technologies (anaerobic digestion, sanitary landfill with gas recovery, waste incineration, and gasification) were environmentally assessed and compared. Results: Results showed that anaerobic digestion could be most environmental friendly WTE technology for production of renewable energy from organic waste and could be considered. Furthermore, executives as green minded managements can improve the quality of waste management by finding new solutions. Other technologies such as landfill by gas recovery and gasification will be ranked second and third in terms of environmental effect. Conclusion: Results showed that performing anaerobic digestion technology will produce less environmental impact in long term. Then landfilling by gas recovery and gasification technologies will be ranked second and third in terms of environmental effect.

scholarly journals Economical and Environmental Impact of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Alternatives for Waste Incineration, Landfill and Anaerobic Digestion

2014 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 704-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sieting Tan ◽  
Haslenda Hashim ◽  
Chewtin Lee ◽  
Mohd Rozainee Taib ◽  
Jinyue Yan
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Waste To Energy

Waste-to-Energy Projects (Part II): Comparing Approaches

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-163
Author(s):  
Harsh Vardhan Bhati
Keyword(s):  
Solid Waste ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
Heavy Pollution ◽  
Developed Nations ◽  
Digestion Methods ◽  
By Products ◽  
India And China

Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation have led to a huge increase in the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) across the globe. The world’s cities generate about 1.3 billion tons of solid waste per year and this is expected to increase to 2.2 billion tons by 2025. The most common method of waste management adopted by cities is to dispose of MSW in open dumps and oversaturated landfills. The improper management of MSW has become a threat to public and environmental health. However, this waste can also be perceived as an opportunity and a source of energy through Waste to Energy (WtE) technology. WtE technologies are used to produce various by-products like electricity, heat, biofuels and compost. In developed nations, it is primarily the non-organic elements of MSW that are used in WtE incineration. Developing nations are also investing heavily in WtE incineration, irrespective of the fact that their MSW consists primarily of biodegradables. The existing WtE incineration plants in India and China are not only causing heavy pollution but also posing a serious threat to the environment and human health. In this article, the author focuses on the current status and challenges of different WtE technologies used in Europe, US, China, Japan and India. Furthermore, the author recommends that waste incineration should not be treated as a source of renewable energy and suggests anaerobic digestion methods (biomethanation) as a solution for countries with more biodegradable waste.

Comparison of trace element mobility from MSWI ash before and after plasma vitrification

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2110115
Author(s):  
Wesley N Oehmig ◽  
Justin Roessler ◽  
Abdul Mulla Saleh ◽  
Kyle A Clavier ◽  
Christopher C Ferraro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Municipal Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Plasma Arc ◽  
Municipal Solid Waste Incineration ◽  
Trace Element Mobility ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Air Pollution Control Residues

A common perception of plasma arc treatment systems for municipal solid waste incineration ash is that the resulting vitrified slag is inert from an environmental perspective. Research was conducted to examine this hypothesis and to assess whether reduced pollutant release results from pollutant depletion during the process of the ash with plasma, or encapsulation in the glassy vitrified matrix. The concentrations of four discrete municipal solid waste incineration ash samples before and after plasma arc vitrification in a bench-scale unit were compared. Slag and untreated ash samples were leached using several standardized approaches and mobility among the four metals of interest (e.g. As, Cd, Pb and Sb) varied across samples, but was generally high (as high as 100% for Cd). Comparison across methods did not indicate substantial encapsulation in the vitrified slag, which suggests that reduced pollutant release from plasma arc vitrified slag is due to pollutant depletion by volatilization, not encapsulation. This has significant implications for the management of air pollution control residues from waste-to-energy facilities using plasma arc vitrification.

Poultry litter as a fuel

1993 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.P. Dagnall
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Poultry Litter ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Direct Use

In the UK about 1.4 million tonnes of used poultry litter are produced each year. Its disposal by direct use as a fertilizer or by landfill can, in some circumstances, have an adverse environmental impact. Waste-to-energy schemes which generate revenue from the energy produced and may provide fertilizer as a valuable byproduct offer an alternative and environmentally acceptable means of disposal.

Gefahrstoffe am Arbeitsplatz – Arbeitsplatzgrenzwert, Immissionsgrenzwert oder Innenraumrichtwert?/Hazardous substances at workplace – Occupational exposure limit, immission limit value or indoor air guide value?

Gefahrstoffe ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (07-08) ◽  
pp. 255-259
Author(s):  
R. Hebisch ◽  
T. Kuhlbusch ◽  
K. Bux ◽  
D. Breuer ◽  
T. Lahrz
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Occupational Exposure Limit ◽  
Guide Value ◽  
Limit Value ◽  
Exposure Limit

Die Beurteilung der Konzentrationen von Gefahrstoffen in der Luft kann anhand verschiedener Beurteilungsmaßstäbe erfolgen. Einerseits ist dafür ausschlaggebend, ob Tätigkeiten mit Gefahrstoffen oder ohne Gefahrstoffe ausgeführt werden. Andererseits ist auch immer zu berücksichtigen, ob die Tätigkeiten im Freien, in teilweise geschlossenen oder geschlossenen Arbeitsbereichen erfolgen. Es werden einzelne Szenarien näher betrachtet und die Expositionsbeurteilung wird anhand von Arbeitsplatzgrenzwerten, Immissionsgrenzwerten und Innenraumrichtwerten dargestellt. Dabei wird insbesondere auf solche Situationen eingegangen, die sich nicht eindeutig voneinander abgrenzen lassen.

scholarly journals Particulate matter air pollution offsets ozone damage to global crop production

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke D. Schiferl ◽  
Colette L. Heald
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Diffuse Radiation ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Pollution Exposure

Abstract. Ensuring global food security requires a comprehensive understanding of environmental pressures on food production, including the impacts of air quality. Surface ozone damages plants and decreases crop production; this effect has been extensively studied. In contrast, the presence of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere can be beneficial to crops given that enhanced light scattering leads to a more even and efficient distribution of photons which can outweigh total incoming radiation loss. This study quantifies the impacts of ozone and PM on the global production of maize, rice, and wheat in 2010 and 2050. We show that accounting for the growing season of these crops is an important factor in determining their air pollution exposure. We find that the effect of PM can offset much, if not all, of the reduction in yield associated with ozone damage. Assuming maximum sensitivity to PM, the current (2010) global net impact of air quality on crop production is positive (+6.0 %, +0.5 %, and +4.9 % for maize, wheat, and rice, respectively). Future emissions scenarios indicate that attempts to improve air quality can result in a net negative effect on crop production in areas dominated by the PM effect. However, we caution that the uncertainty in this assessment is large due to the uncertainty associated with crop response to changes in diffuse radiation; this highlights that more detailed physiological study of this response for common cultivars is crucial.

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